Friday, 25 January 2013

I currently have a bit of an obsession with Habitat homeware. Unfortunately a lot of the furniture is a bit out of my price range, but you can still achieve the Habitat look with a few choice accessories. Here are some of my favourites...

Wednesday, 23 January 2013

In preparation for my next quilt, I ordered myself some new fabrics from The Village Haberdashery. Most are Kona Solids in peach, black, white, peapod and aloe. The chevron design fabric is by Riley Blake. I can't wait for them to arrive!

I am hoping to make it in to an isoscoles triangle pattern like these stunning quilts...

Sunday, 20 January 2013

I am very proud to present my first ever completed quilt! The fabric is from Amy Butler's 'Lark' range which is currently on sale in John Lewis. I thought that I would start with a fairly simple design, and so cut the fabric in to 6 1/2" squares. I laid it out in a random pattern of 8 squares by 11 squares. The finished quilt is 164 x 120cm.

I bought the backing from Fletchers Fabrics in York. I had originally wanted to buy another pattern in the Lark range, but upon measuring my quilt I had made it too wide and needed an extra wide fabric. The turquoise and purple spot was perfect at 140cm.

I decided to stitch the ditch and sew diagonally across each square. Because the fabric has so many patterns, it's not the easiest to see but it's there, I promise!

The pink spotty binding is from another Amy Butler range called 'Soul Blossoms'. I bought a metre from Grace and Jacob in York. I would definitely recommend having a look in if you are ever in York as they have a huge range of fabrics and they are all lovely. I think I would happily have one of everything.

I think this quilt will now live happily on my sofa ready for me to snuggle under when I am watching films.

And if I ever run out of uses for it, there is always the option of wearing it as a cape...

It's definitely not perfect but I love it nonetheless and I have to admit that I have well and truly caught the quilting bug. I am already coming up with ideas for my next one! I should also say a massive thank you to my sister, Sally Thought Sparkle, for teaching me how to quilt and for being (mostly) patient of my very slow sewing.

We had a lovely day out in the snow yesterday. Me and my niece, my two sisters and their husbands had walked down to our local park. My niece, Emma, had her first ever go on a sledge but I think we were all a lot more excited about it than she was. My favourite bit was enjoying a hot ribena and gingerbread man in the park cafe. Mmm perfect!

Tuesday, 8 January 2013

We had a lovely break in the Lake District at the weekend. I have never been before but I would definitely recommend a visit if you get the opportunity, the scenery is beautiful and there is lots to see and do. It wasn't the warmest weekend ever, and the weather was quite dull and foggy but that didn't dampen our spirits. I think my favourite part was eating the most delicious apple pie in a small cafe in Ambleside, unfortunately because we were enjoying it so much we forgot to get a picture!

Me enjoying a boat trip around Lake Windemere.

Me getting rather cold after being on the boat too long! Excuse my maniacal face, I promise I was enjoying myself really!

Fog on Windemere

I liked this swan until it started coming towards me, then I got scared.

Beard experimenting with the Macro setting on the camera.

More views of Lake Windemere

The Lakeland Motor Museum had some absolutely fabulous cars. I fell in love with a 1960s Alfa Romeo

Friday, 4 January 2013

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. I enjoyed spending time with my family, and then celebrated New Year with my friends. I have to say I was a very lucky girl this year and Santa brought me some wonderful presents. My new toy is this Singer Confidence 7465 sewing machine. One of my New Years resolutions is to start crafting more regularly, and my sister has really inspired me with her fabulous quilts.

To christen my new sewing machine I thought it would only be fair to get some new fabric so I bought these from the 'Lark' range by Amy Butler. It is currently reduced to £6.95 a square metre in the John Lewis sale and they have lots of different patterns to choose from. I have been busy cutting out lots of squares for a new quilt, I think it might turn out a little on the bright side.

My rather fabulous boyfriend is taking me to the Lake District this weekend. I have never been before but I have heard it is absolutely beautiful so I can't wait. Judging by the weather recently I am sure there will be plenty of rain but it won't dampen my spirits!

Hello!

My name is Anna and I run Minnie Vintage, an online vintage clothing and homeware shop based in Sheffield in the United Kingdom. I am a lover of all things retro, an avid film collector, crafter, charity shop obsessive and dedicated cat lady. Welcome to my blog!